A Study on the Plant Communities in Relation to Copper Mineralisation around Rakha Mines, Singhbhum Copper Belt, Bihar

Results of the plant distribution pattern with reference to copper mineralisation in Singhbhum copper belt, Bihar are presented. In the heart of mineralised zone, Hyptis suaveolens or Croton roxburghii dominates. In areas under moderately high level of copper, the dominant species is not uniform and some of these stretches are dominated by Hyptis suaveolens or Croton roxburghii while other have shown Cymbopogon martini or Anogeissus latifolia or Shorea robusta or Diospyros melanoxylon. In contrast, sampling zone containing low levels of copper (around 200 ppm and less) is dominated by either Evolvulus aislnoides or Lantana camara or Woodfordia fruticosa. Areas that contain low copper values are also demarcated by Blumea oxyodonta and Polygonum plebejum. Overall analysis indicates that species varied in the copper tolerance and plants like Hyptis suaveolens and Croton roxburghii dominate when log copper values reach around 4.0. Species like Acacia torta, Diospyros melanoxylon and Holarrhena antidysenterica showed their maximum numbers when log copper values are between 2 and 3. It is suggested that the species combination and community structure are dependent on substrate copper levels.